Southside St. Louis rapper Jovan “Jibbs” Campbell has always had a good ear. “I was about nine or 10 when I first heard [that beat],” he says of his national smash, “Chain Hang Low.” “I always thought it was a hit.” Unfortunately, the track that would introduce the now 16-year-old to the masses wasn’t initially his for the taking.
Produced in ’99 by Jibbs’ older brother DJ Beatz, the instrumental was originally made for another MC, Lil’ Mont, and featured Jibbs’ kiddie vocals on the Mister Softee-–inspired chorus. After the song barely made a blip on the local scene, Beatz stashed the track and concept. For years, Jibbs insisted they remake the song, so Beatz finally remixed it and handed it over to his little brother. “I got it…wrote the verses, wrote a prehook,” says Jibbs, “and there it was.” “Chain Hang Low” has since become the No. 1 rap song on iTunes and was recently featured on HBO’s Entourage.
As the baby in a family of musicians, Jibbs was always encouraged to pursue hip-hop. “We had a studio in my house,” he says. “My dad would play the drums, my mom would rap, [and] my brothers produced.” Beatz, however, was skeptical of Jibbs’ skills until the youngster jacked a beat off the Internet and took it upon himself to record his first full song. “That record was so cold,” remembers Beatz, who started inviting Jibbs to his basement freestyle sessions. “He was [12 years old] and killing older cats. He would beat them so bad that people were ready to fight him.”
As the family shopped for a deal, Jibbs kept recording and opened shows in the Lou for artists like Young Jeezy, Nelly, Chingy and Bow Wow. In August 2005, the teen titan was offered a deal with Geffen Records, which he gladly accepted. His debut, Jibbs Featuring Jibbs, showcases a versatile MC and songwriter equally adept at polished pop numbers (“Bring It Back”) and introspective songs (“Hood”). With an album scheduled to be released in the star-studded fourth quarter, Jibbs believes he’s ready for the competition. “It’s a grown-up business,” he says, “but I’ve been doing this all my life.”
—————-
Check out XXL’s other Show & Prove picks in the
November 2006 issue (#86)
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September 27th, 2006
at 1:16 pm
Diggy Doc (aka Lil Louch) says:
The fuck is this weak ass shit doing gettin so many spins. Where the fuck hip-hip is going…………..who the fuck knows. Betta get u some d-block if wanna listen to some real music
Reply
September 27th, 2006
at 1:17 pm
Diggy Doc (aka Lil Louch) says:
The fuck is this weak ass shit doing gettin so many spins. Where the fuck hip-hip is going…………..who the fuck knows.
Reply
September 27th, 2006
at 5:30 pm
Sir Jantz says:
I think JIbbs has a future in hip-hop because he’s different. He gives us a little break from all of the “leaning and rocking”. I think he’s gonna show and prove a lot of haters wrong.
Reply
September 29th, 2006
at 8:47 am
Mr 50 Cent says:
i am gonna sign this mo’fucker to ggg g-unit and never release his album, this bitch gets on my nerves, i might even let tony gayo have him in the showers coz tony is like that since he came out of prison
50 cent out xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reply
October 3rd, 2006
at 1:39 pm
f*** SLOT-A-NOT RECORDS says:
who said this picture was cool?
Reply
October 3rd, 2006
at 8:11 pm
the south says:
well, jibbs is better than any new york rapper right now other than dipset, who get mad spins down south
Reply
October 4th, 2006
at 1:24 pm
Rubberband Banks says:
Cosignin The Rest Of The South
Reply
October 4th, 2006
at 6:30 pm
halla09 says:
yall niggaz is hatin 4real tho cuz my man jibbs is gon blow up and shove it in all dem hataz faces that aint doin nuthin but hatin!! I WOULD LUV FOR HIM 2 DO A SONG WITH MY BABY NELLY CUZ I LUV BOTH OF EM!
Reply
October 5th, 2006
at 7:20 am
jibbs wifey_101 says:
das carzy how people alraedy hattin on my boo why cuz he makin the reast of yall look stupid cuz his song gettin crazy love by everbody jibbs man tell the hattin niccas to fall back and worry bout theres
Reply
October 5th, 2006
at 8:28 am
Unkle Samm says:
Man, now I know why this was a weak song. I couldn’t imagine a grown man making this song. It blows! Man even I’m 16, and I spit better stuff than this. Lame commercial song selling when guys that spit raw rhymes, and all they get is a backseat to this whack song! Chain Hang Low? C’mon. Out of all the topics of songs you’re gonna use that? Please! It’s like Luda said in “Tell It Like It Is”: “How you own three cars but you dont own your own name.” That’s real! That’s a topic you can spit a raw song. But rappin’ about how low your chain hangs? Get real!
Reply
October 5th, 2006
at 11:01 am
SUPERMAN says:
WHAT FAGGOTS DOWNLOAD THIS WEAK SHIT. YOU KNOW WHAT I DONT GET… I ALWAYS HEAR THIS SONG AND THAT SONG BECOMING #1 ON THIS LIST AND THAT LIST BUT WHO MAKES IT #1? WHO? IS IT LITTLE FAGGOTS? WHITE PEOPLE? KIDS? WHO? BANKS SPITS FIRE AND IS IN THE TOP 80 ALONG WITH GAME AND NIGGAS LIKE JIBBS GET #1? I HATE HIP HOP. WHAT THE FUCK. THE PROBLEM IS WHITE INDUSTRY LEADERS PROMOTE THIS SHIT AND MAKE IT #1 BECAUSE REAL NIGGAS WHO LISTEN TO HIP HOP WOULDNT PLAY THIS ON THEIR HEADPHONES. SHIT, THEY WOULDNT PLAY THIS EVEN IF THE FM RADIO WAS BUMPIN IT. WE NEED TO BOYCOTT ALL THIS HIP-POP. FUNNY HOW WE GOT ALL THESE G-UNIT HATERS WHEN 50 IS MORE LYRICAL THAN 99% OF THE SOUTH BUT WERE STUCK WITH NIGGAS LIKE JIBBS AND YOUNG JOC. SHIT IMA BE JOKER AND COME UP WITH A SMASH HIT CALLED “BOX O’ CEREAL”! THATLL BE THE #1 HIT OF THE CENTURY!
Reply
October 5th, 2006
at 12:07 pm
shinobi says:
here we go again! why must this weak watered down shit be promoted? this is the saddest thing i’ve seen and it’s been going for far too long and it needs to stop! I mean people just sit by and let this useless drivel continuously get radio spins and the videos like chain hang and walk it out just playing and playing and they took off uncut!? this shit needs to stop these little nursery songs need to stop being made and we need to promoting this wackness disease! At least hov is coming back out! All you real hip-hop heads keep your heads up!
Reply
October 5th, 2006
at 3:47 pm
ashley says:
JIBBS IS SOOOOOO HOT HE IS THE HOTTEST RAPPER HOT RIGHT NOW WITH THE HOTTEST SINGLE. DO YOU CHAIN HANG LOW??????????
Reply
October 5th, 2006
at 5:10 pm
Ladee_Jibbs says:
yea dis dude is HOT!! son…nd plus he only 15..so most of yall needa stop hatin cuz yall actin like yall culd do betta knowin damn well yall cant
Reply
October 6th, 2006
at 7:40 am
tricia says:
jibbs is so friken hottttt!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
October 6th, 2006
at 7:41 am
tricia says:
i love u jibbs!!!!!!!
Reply
October 6th, 2006
at 9:26 am
chelsea tate says:
that is my baaaaabyyyyy! cant nooooooobody do it like you baby do wat u do and keep it ^. westside!
Reply
October 6th, 2006
at 1:04 pm
nellz says:
niggas rap about they’rs sneakers, niggas rap about they’re grillz, niggas rap about they’re ice, niggaz rap about they cars….let the nigga rap about how low his fkn chain hangs. stop hatin. if u don’t have anything positive to say, dont say shit
Reply
October 6th, 2006
at 1:20 pm
SUPERMAN says:
SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU BITCH. WE LET THESE NIGGAS SLIDE SOON ITS GONNA BE RAPPING ABOUT TOILETS, BARBERS, CARBON FIBER HOODS, PET ANIMALS, FIRETRUCKS, CEREAL BOXES, GYM EQUIPMENT, AND TOILET TISSUE. IF THIS AND JIBBS IS THE FUTURE OF HIP HOP I DONT WANNA HAVE NOTHIN TO DO WITH IT!
Reply
October 8th, 2006
at 2:28 am
kristi says:
jibb’s iz so fukin hot
Reply
October 8th, 2006
at 10:20 pm
Jibbs baby boo says:
Jibbs i love you so much your baby gurl 4-life sweet 16 good right man jibbs when you in the A hit me up
Reply
October 8th, 2006
at 11:24 pm
Pottz says:
THIS NIGGA IZ FUCKIN WACK. THAT BULLSHIT ASS SINGLE, FUCK THAT LIL BASTARD.
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 10:57 am
MRS-JIBB$ says:
WHATS UP THIS YO GURL DARLIND AKA HEARTZ I JUST WANTED TO LET YALL KNOW I LOVE JIBBS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
MUCH HE IS SOOOOOOO SEXY.IF I COULD HAVE ONE DAY WITH HIM GOD KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. I B CALLING HIM BUT HE DO NOT PICK UP HIS PHONE. I LOVE HIM SOOOOOOO MUCH I HAVE LOTS OF PICS OF HIM IN MY LOCKER AND IN MY ROOM. I HOPE I CAN JUST GIVE HIM A BIG HUG AND A KIS ONE DAY!!!!!!!!!!! I CALLED HIM WHEN HE WAS ON 100.3 THE BEAT AND WAS TALKING TO HIM. i LOVE THIS MAN SOOOOOOOOO MUCH I REALLY WANT TO MEET HIM ONE DAY
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 11:00 am
MRS-JIBB$ says:
YALL LIL GURLS NEED 2 STOP CUZ MY MAN JIBBS IS THE HOTTEST RIGHT NOW SO WHAT YALL GOT 2 SAY ABOUT THAT
Reply
October 9th, 2006
at 11:02 am
MRS-JIBB$ says:
JIBBS IS FROM THE STL LIKE ME THATS WHY YALL TALKING BAD ABOUT MY HIM
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 9:51 am
RedD Boi says:
All yall niggas speaking on the south need to leave it be. Its completely obvious that yall dont kno shit bout the south. If its so weak than why is all the heat coming from the south right now! ATL, MIA, Houston! Yall bois need to shut ya mouths. Divided the North fell! United the South stands! Nucca!
Reply
October 10th, 2006
at 2:55 pm
LANDIGGY says:
and my bots always around like it a meeting.
Reply
October 16th, 2006
at 4:30 pm
blackqueen91 says:
I haven’t really listened to the radio in a long time, because I keep hearin stuff like Chain Hang Low, Walk It Out, Peanut Butter n Jelly. I’m from the south and everybody is talkin like we doin it down here, we have everybody’s attention but nobody ain’t sayin nothin that 30 niggas ain’t said before. Ain’t nobody makin no classics so when we look back to 2006 when the South had it on lock everybody is just gonna be wondering what in the world we were talkin about.
All my MCs out there, if you really feel like you got it going say something relevant. STEP YOUR GAME UP!
Reply
October 17th, 2006
at 10:02 am
EASTSIDEKID says:
THIS BITCH IS WACK! “WHOMP WHOMP!” NO LYRICAL SKILLS WHATSOEVER!
Reply
October 17th, 2006
at 3:47 pm
E.Williams says:
THIS NIGGA REMADE A MINSTREL SHOWTUNE INTO A HIT.I WANNA HIT THIS NIGGA WITH A HISTORY BOOK!
Reply
October 19th, 2006
at 6:37 pm
jblack says:
I think jibbs is one of the few trying to change hip hop. but nigga please! the big thing in hip hop?! get da fuck outta here nigga!!!
Reply
October 23rd, 2006
at 10:08 am
nana says:
I love you
Reply
October 23rd, 2006
at 10:11 am
nana says:
I love you so so much email me sometime jibbs.
Reply
October 23rd, 2006
at 10:19 am
nana says:
E-mail me at myspace my E-mail is weezybabynanaboo@yahoo.com and put me on your myspace I am a big fan of you jibbs. LOVE ALWAYZ NANA P.S, DO NOT FOR GET TO E-MAIL ME AND TO PUT ME ON YOUR MYSPACE. LOVE YOU
Reply
October 23rd, 2006
at 10:25 am
mrs the game says:
yall some straight hatas if u dont like jibbs he gon blow up flat out while yall hatin let me see yo ass come out with a single muthafuckin hatas
Reply
October 24th, 2006
at 11:32 am
nana says:
me not a thig but chillin and will to wirte you. love you
Reply
October 24th, 2006
at 3:37 pm
SUPERMAN says:
DUDE IS A FAGGOT. NIGGA CANT EVEN RAP. I’D RATHER LISTEN TO KEVIN FEDERLINE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Reply
October 25th, 2006
at 9:42 am
Wardypop says:
How yall hatin on a 16 yr jit fool. He doing 4 da kids dumb ass. Its better than hearing bout drugs and sex all damn day. Yall got damn internet thugs kill me.
Reply
October 25th, 2006
at 2:00 pm
SUPERMAN says:
WARDYPOP? HOW ABOUT PUSSY POP. STOP STICKING UP FOR BITCHES WHO ARE KILLING HIP HOP. NOW I’M GONNA GO BUMP BRITNEY SPEARS. THATS COOL WITH YOU THOUGH RIGHT? NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HER AND JIBBS. SHE DOIN FOR THE KIDS! YAAAAYYYY!
Reply
October 26th, 2006
at 6:35 am
The Gayme says:
oh i wish i could fuck this guy up the ass make him scream my name oh gayme
Reply
October 26th, 2006
at 1:30 pm
mrs. kampbell says:
do you see how sexi my boyfriend jovan is for ya’ll fake fans i’m talking bout jibbs
Reply
October 27th, 2006
at 10:57 am
youngutta says:
A that song he made hang low whatever the fuck it is that shit is so fuckin wack for real you quit that shit stop playin that shit it garbage….
Reply
October 27th, 2006
at 2:03 pm
hiphopluv says:
STL is coming for you bastard that thinks are shit anit hot. For those of you that hate, try making a record that everybody love! That shit anit easy! Half of ya niggas that’s hatin is mad that you couldnt shine @ 15 and make the world love you
Reply
October 27th, 2006
at 3:10 pm
3 SHOTS says:
gaaaaarrrrbbbbaaaggggge!!! wow if i was 15 i’d try staying on top of hip-hop, not becoming a one hit wonder. especially a garbage one hit wonder at that.
Reply
October 29th, 2006
at 11:05 am
Red Star Productionz says:
Yall Some Hatin Ass Fucks. Hatin on my Nigga Jibbs you wanna know the Real reason he talks about his fucking ice is cause you fucking hata’s aint got it. and I put my life on it if any of you niggaz wanted to battle this nigga he’ll stread yall ass.
Reply
October 30th, 2006
at 11:27 am
lil shorty says:
I WANNA BE JIBBS RID3 OR DI3 CHICK
tha
right
way
MY
SEXYYYYYYY
BOY
LOVE
U
Reply
October 31st, 2006
at 12:09 pm
will says:
i think yall pissed cuz dis nigga got signed….bujji ass bitchez
Reply
October 31st, 2006
at 3:26 pm
OFFICIAL says:
this dude is a horrible rapper. 100x worst than chicken doo doo poop. who signed him again? jibbs featuring jibbs? whered he get that name from, an ancient chinese vegetable?
Reply
October 31st, 2006
at 10:36 pm
Miss Peachy says:
how old is he..really? 21?
Reply
November 1st, 2006
at 11:43 am
mark says:
you really suck ass at rapping so you shold think about stoping soon
Reply
November 1st, 2006
at 4:04 pm
RIPTHEMIC says:
this bitch sucks like a motherfucker. he doesnt deserve any airplay and that bitch in here that keeps posting under “mrs. this or miss that” shut the fuck up. we know its only one person in here posing under 20 different names to give this bitch credit he doesnt deserve. so get ya little hoe ass outta here and stop supporting gay music!
Reply
November 6th, 2006
at 9:08 am
king ric (g-unit) says:
u fukin haters! he did boxing when he was 12.. and became champ!! wat wer u doin wen u was 12 u hater???!!!! i think u still suki ur mom’s nipples and craving for breast MILK!!! Jibbs make good music…!! GgGGGGg-unit!!
Reply
November 16th, 2006
at 12:17 am
*SuZ* says:
FOR REAL yall need to stop hatin on ma man jibbs, cuz thas realli all yall doin. he gotta hott song out, hes a hott new artist n yall jus mad cuz it aint u. how bout U go out n make sum songs n get sum money b4 yall start talin sh!t on sumone else! if he so wack n wat not y ppl like his song so much and yd they write about him in this magazine??? OVIUSLY sumbody like him (includin me). so yea yall needa go sumwere wit all dat. hatin aint gon do nuffin 4 u but make u look dumb. Jibbs keep ya head up, u goin places boi ;D
Reply
November 16th, 2006
at 7:55 pm
Hurricane Game says:
superman i WILL BEAT YOUR LIL’ Ass if you eva come to my City Wit Your Lil S On Your Chest. Dat S Standin For Snitch You Bitch Muthafuka. Ima Fuck You Up. Plus Dis Lil 16 Year Old Raps Beta Than Ya Boy 50. 50 Mumbles Coz He got Yayo Likin His Ass Like You Did While He Was On Tour Ha Ha Bitch Muthafuka. GGGG-UNOT!
Reply
November 17th, 2006
at 10:08 am
toyshara a.k.a ms jibbs says:
what up this ya girl teetee and you look made good im type obsessed
wit ya ohhhhhhhhhhhh you look made sexy ya song chain hang low is the future rap and the hit king kong
so holla at ya girl
Reply
November 17th, 2006
at 11:33 am
3 SHOTS says:
hurricane game is an obsessed faggot boy who cant keep game’s dick out his mouth. signing off.
Reply
November 21st, 2006
at 8:19 pm
shamika says:
jibbs is so SSSEEEXXXYYY
hes doing good
n i hope he do even better
Reply
December 6th, 2006
at 12:37 am
H-MAN says:
jibbs is a disgrace to the art of writing
Reply
December 11th, 2006
at 4:49 pm
DARK says:
I’m sorry but i got to say this superhomo and ripthebitch i find it funny how i go into rooms findin you fags in here agreein on the same shit ripthebitch and superhomo you one fag your one lil white boy usin different names.your exposed bitch is that why i ran your ass out of the other blog fake ass mark
Reply
December 29th, 2006
at 11:08 pm
~Lil Missez~ says:
All i gotta say if you don’t like the song then don’t listen to it but the world don’t revolves around you and they don’t play it for yall haters they play it for the people who like it and appreicate a change in hip-hop from sex,drugs,and killing so i mean be you and fall back because haters ain’t nothing but motivators and thats the truth thats all i gotta say and that you songs “Go To Far” and “Let’s Be Real” are nice and something for the young ladies because im 16 and i rather listen to that then them songs talking bout shake that ass and all that lame stuff .SO IF YOU DISLIKE THE SONG THEN FALLBACK AND BE YOU BE GLAD THAT THERES YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE TRYNA MAKE IT IN A WHITE DOMINATED WORLD YOU HATERS.
Reply
January 2nd, 2007
at 11:00 pm
hiphopisdead says:
to tell yall the truth, jibbs may be a bubble gum rapper,but he is still doin his shit, so yall hating cuz u aint out there like him..he is young and he is styll doin his shit. he hasnt evn been out for that long and ppl are already hating.i think that hip hop is dead, but while we have music now why dont we just take it all in.
Reply
February 13th, 2007
at 2:02 pm
RICH VISION says:
Show&Prove next group: BEINEM
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BEINEM
Reply
March 12th, 2007
at 7:50 pm
Bigg Damage says:
Like it or not, he’s making millions of dollars off that song!{LAUGHS!}
Come on, Lil’ Jon gets paid to say catch phrases, so you see how easy it is to get paid to do simple things?
…Bigg Damage
Reply
June 10th, 2007
at 1:01 pm
ReDD412 says:
another murderer of hip hop wtf dis nigga is GARBAGE Peedi peedi was RIGHT
Reply
July 27th, 2007
at 4:15 pm
Javier Raps Only Defense says:
Omg This Nikkas Name means bust name in whitboy terms and he flopped where he at can anyone name a song he made after chain hang low well he just adds on to the one hit wonders of this decade too bad pac isnt around to shoot him and get away with it lol
Reply